Sunderland had only scored seven goals in 10 top-flight matches before the win at Fulham, which yielded the most goals they have managed in any game this season.

O'Neill's side have struggled to create chances and have been reliant on Fletcher, who has scored six of their goals, so the fact that two more of his players got on the scoresheet will also please the Black Cats boss.

On the dismissal of Hangeland, Cattermole said referee Lee Probert had got the day's big decision right. "I thought it was two-footed and the rules say that you can't do that. I don't think it was too bad but you can't do that."

Fulham manager Martin Jol disagreed with Cattermole's assessment. "The red card was their luck but that happens in football," he said.

"I felt as though [Hangeland] went for the ball, he was not over the ball, it was under the ball and then he slipped. By the letter of the law the referee was within his rights to give it but I think he was probably the only man at Craven Cottage who thought it was a red card. It was not a red card."